Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Luqman (Luqman)
Chapter 31: Verse 17

Calling with Patience
"My dear son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient in what befalls you. That is the weightiest of tasks."

The prerequisite for calling to Allah is knowledge. This applies to calling non-Muslims to Islam, calling Muslims to strengthen their faith, and calling sinners away from their misdeeds. A caller must know what a Muslim believes and what is commanded of a Muslim and what is forbidden.

While engaged in the work of calling to Allah, other conditions must be present. These conditions are those of kindness, gentleness, and sensitivity towards those being addressed.

There is one condition that the caller must fulfill afterwards – patience. The caller must endure the abuses of others, their cold indifference, and their rejection. A caller must also bear patiently with those who respond positively and not expect too much at once.

We see all of these conditions fulfilled in the practical example of Luqman giving advice to his son in the above verse.

Source:
"Prerequisites & Conditions for Islamic Workers" - `Abd al-`Azîz b. `Abd Allah al-Râjihî

Understanding The Prophet's Life

The Right To Marry

Further, Islam’s insistence on parental involvement in the selection process is to ensure that a person exercises his or her choice correctly. In other words, so parents can step in if there is a serious issue of compatibility.

Compatibility entails a person’s worth in a spiritual and moral sense: the only primary criterion that makes or breaks a marriage. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If a person of acceptable religion and character presents himself for marriage, marry him, otherwise, there would be widespread sedition and rampant corruption in the land.”

Therefore, if we have made a choice based on the above consideration, then our parents have no right to stop our marriage. Since it is our choice to eat the food we wish to eat, likewise, it is our choice to decide whom we wish to choose as a life-long partner. They cannot stop us from marrying the person we want simply because the person is not sharing our culture or ethnic background.

Parents, however, have the authority to intervene should we choose someone of questionable moral and religious character. If, however, our parents' objection to our marriage is based purely on racial, cultural or ethnic grounds, we are allowed to seek other channels of authority to intervene in such a case, as long as the person of our choice is of acceptable religion and character. The concerned authority is supposed to get the parental consent to the marriage, but should they insist on their stand, the authority is sanctioned to authorize our marriage.

This last option should only be exercised after we have exhausted all endeavors to communicate with our parents, both individually and through other channels in the community such as elders or respectable leaders or Imams. It is more likely that parents are concerned about their children for genuine reasons, and that once things are explained to them, they will probably, relent.

Source:
“IslamOnline.Net” – Ahmed Kutty

Blindspot!

Advise to Imams

The Imam’s mandate for leadership is based upon his practice.  The role of the leader is to lead, but you can’t lead something that will not move.  To develop movement, the leader must be active, and he must teach by example. His strength is his kindness.  He understands that Ibaadah (worship) is just for Allah alone, not himself.  So, he is patient and understanding with his brothers as he teaches.  His teaching never strays from the basics, no matter how much he knows or thinks he knows, i.e., shahadah, prayers, fasting, zakat, hajj.  Everyone will not and cannot learn or practice it to the same degree.  All worship is for Allah…Qur’an and Hadith are the source of ilm (knowledge) for the Ummah. Fard Allah bi-li ibaadah (worshipping Allah alone), ijmaa and ijtihaad (consensus and informed reasoning) must be rooted in Shariah (Islamic law). 

Based upon our collective niyaat, we are the Ummah (community) of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).  He never named the community, so we don’t name it.  We are the Ummah, and this is sufficient.  Imams and jamaats may name masajids and jamaats, but Allah and His Messenger has named the community, Ummah. 

The Imam must be prepared to do most of the work without thanks from those who benefit, and without compensation.  Your reward is with Allah.  Stay away from making up and giving out offices of authority…amir of this and minister of that, etc.  The Prophet only appointed authority, as he needed it.  Men were tested in their practice before being given authority.  Allah will raise from the ranks those who are fit to lead.  If you doubt me, then name the positions of authority before the year of deputation.

Source:
"Advise to Imams" - Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin